The UK Government is making £20 million available to local authorities in 2021/22, which will allow councils to install more electric vehicle chargers.
Additional funding from the UK Government should help speed up the deployment of electric vehicle chargepoints, although many councils don’t appear to be that eager to spend the money that is available. In fact, recent figures from Centrica suggested that councils across the UK aren’t currently planning to install many chargers at all.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wants to change those figures, however. He has penned a letter to councils across the UK to urge them to take advantage of the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS), which allows residents without private parking to gain access to electric vehicle chargers.
Since its inception in 2017, more than 140 local authority projects have benefitted from the scheme, which has supported applications for nearly 4,000 chargepoints across the UK. This funding boost could double that, adding nearly 4,000 more chargepoints in our towns and cities, tackling poor air quality and supporting economic growth as we build back greener from the pandemic.
Local councils play an essential role in providing electric vehicle infrastructure and so in partnership with Energy Saving Trust, the Department for Transport is welcoming applications from councils which are yet to apply for funding, as well as those that have already benefited.
Shapps commented,”From Cumbria to Cornwall, drivers across the country should benefit from the electric vehicle revolution we’re seeing right now.
“With a world-leading charging network, we’re making it easier for more people to switch to electric vehicles, creating healthier neighbourhoods and cleaning up our air as we build back greener.
Road to Net Zero
Councils across the country will need to get ready for the upcoming net zero goal set by the UK Government. This goal says that the UK will achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with the first major step towards this goal set to take place in 2030 when new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned.
Nick Harvey, senior programme manager at Energy Saving Trust, concluded, “The confirmation of £20 million of funding for the ORCS in 2021/22 is great news. This funding will allow local authorities to install convenient and cost-effective electric vehicle charging infrastructure for those who rely on on-street parking. This helps to support the fair transition to the increased adoption of low carbon transport.”
